A few days before submitting her article to the Spokesman, Pauline told me what it was going to be about. We had about 45 minutes worth of conversation on the topic and she read me some quotes and material she was planning to use. As I told her then, I believe that the strongest form of resistance is a coalition between those most likely to be attacked and those less likely. In the case of police brutality, that would mean middle class/affluent whites standing together with people of color and poor folks to demand justice. I'd like to think that some part of our conversation that day influenced what Pauline wrote but I can tell you for a fact that she wrote that column herself. We've had similar conversations about some of her other columns and I know that she wrote them, too.
My first working relationship with Pauline came when she wanted to put together a rally to support Natalie Johnson Lee when she came under attack after the Martha Donald/Melissa Schmidt incident. We worked together on that rally and I found her to be a hard worker and a savvy political strategist. As we continue to work together, my respect for her has only grown.
I've been a political activist for some 25 years or so and have seen lots of folks with few skills learn and grow over time and experience into amazing people. I have no doubt that many of the community and neighborhood organizers on this list have seen the same transformation. The skills you learn doing this work could not be taught in any school. People who want these skills will just have to get busy helping do the work.
Michelle Gross Bryn Mawr
At 03:11 PM 4/4/03 -0800, you wrote:
Michelle Gross writes:
IMHO Pauline Thomas is emerging as a strong and principled leader in her community and a powerful writer, too.
======================================== This is really odd. When Pauline Thomas was secretary of CNIA, the organization purchased a video recorder to record meetings, because Thomas was unable to take notes. Is Thomas the real author of these columns, or are they ghostwritten?
Dee Colcord Northside
TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible.
________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
